PATH Harrison station replacement expedited

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey said Wednesday the 76-year-old Harrison PATH rail station is on a faster track to replacement after Port Authority commissioners last week authorized key steps to move the project forward.

"The Board's action to approve $256 million in project authorizations enables PATH officials to award contracts for professional and advisory services to finalize the station's design, hire a construction manager and acquire outstanding properties," said the regional authority. "The construction portion of the project is estimated at $153.8 million and this expedited process will shave two years off the expected timeframe. The move will help meet the city's growing residential and commercial needs, as well as those related to Red Bulls [soccer] Stadium."

"The replacement of the aging PATH station at Harrison, along with the addition of 340 new rail cars, demonstrates the Board of Commissioners' commitment to modernize the PATH system for the 76 million riders who use it each year," said Port Authority Chairman David Samson. "The new station will be a centerpiece for Harrison's revitalization and create over a thousand jobs and $344 million in economic activity."

"Trimming two years off the construction timeline will enable us to deliver this important rail station in five years rather than seven," said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. "This exemplifies the Port Authority's drive to regain its place as one of the region's most efficient economic engines by eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that will enable projects to be built in a timelier fashion."